Departmental Art Works

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department spent money on art works in the last 12 months.

Chris Mole: During the last 12 months the department spent £1,804 on art works and associated equipment. A list of acquisitions has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Other works of art displayed in the Department for Transport London HQ buildings are from the Government Art Collection (GAC), which publishes an annual list of acquisitions.
	Information in respect of the Highways Agency can be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a full review of all claims and invoices. However, the Highways Agency have advised that they would not normally approve the spend of their funds on the procurement of works of art.
	No works of art have been purchased by the other six Department for Transport Executive agencies during the last 12 months.

Departmental Billing

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many and what proportion of invoices submitted to his Department have been paid within 10 days in each month since October 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mole: Information on the proportion of invoices paid within 10 days of receipt for the Department for Transport and its Agencies is only available from January 2009 as set out in the following table. Figures from January 2009 to May 2009 exclude Vehicle Certification Agency invoices.
	
		
			   Invoices paid  Invoices paid within 10 days  Percentage paid within 10 days 
			 January 2009 17,569 10,750 61.19 
			 February 2009 17,248 11,283 65.42 
			 March 2009 19,308 12,947 67.06 
			 April 2009 22,302 12,685 56.88 
			 May 2009 14,932 11,994 80.32 
			 June 2009 18,490 15,313 82.82 
			 July 2009 17,733 14,304 80.66 
			 August 2009 16,431 14,379 87.51 
			 September 2009 20,406 18,571 91.01 
			 October 2009 21,306 19,813 92.99 
			 November 2009 21,652 20,276 93.64 
		
	
	Current data on prompt payment is regularly updated on DfT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/procurement/dft/tenday2-091210.pdf

M6: Closures

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the reasons were for the closure of the M6 motorway between junctions 33 and 34 on the night of Thursday 26 November 2009; and between what times it was closed.

Chris Mole: On Thursday 26 November 2009, the northbound carriageway of the M6 Motorway between junctions 33 and 34, was closed by the Highways Agency from 8pm until 3.30am on 27 November, in order to replace the worn out road surface.

Parking Offences: CCTV

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department issues guidance to  (a) local authorities and  (b) police forces on the use of closed-circuit television for the purposes of parking enforcement;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the use of closed circuit television for the purposes of municipal parking enforcement.

Sadiq Khan: Advice on the use of closed circuit television by local traffic authorities enforcing parking under the Traffic Management Act 2004 is contained in section 8 of "The Secretary of State's Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities on the Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions" and in section 8 of the Department's "Operational Guidance to Local Authorities: Parking Policy and Enforcement". Both are available on the Department for Transport's website and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	In summary, the guidance says that such equipment should be used only where enforcement is difficult or sensitive and enforcement by on-street officers is not practical-for example where permits or exemptions not readily visible to the equipment apply.
	Enforcement in areas where parking remains a criminal offence does not come within the Department's remit and so we have not issued any comparable guidance to the police.

Parking Offences: Fines

Bob Neill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer to Lord Lucas of 5 October 2009,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 429WA, on parking fines, if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) application by Westminster City Council for certification and  (b) the letter of refusal by his Department.

Sadiq Khan: The information from Westminster council, provided in support of its application for certification of CCTV equipment used for the civil enforcement of parking contraventions, remains under active development and ongoing consideration. It is therefore not appropriate to release the application. There has not been any letter of refusal.

Railways: Finance

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what plans his Department has to consult trade unions in its review of value for money in the rail sector announced in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report.

Chris Mole: The full scope of the review, including the list of stakeholders to be consulted is yet to be determined. The study's terms of reference are on the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/strategyfinance/valueformoney

Railways: Finance

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport which stakeholders he plans to consult during his review into improving value for money in the rail sector announced in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report.

Chris Mole: The full scope of the review, including the list of stakeholders to be consulted is yet to be determined. The study's terms of reference are on the Department for Transport's website:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/strategyfinance/valueformoney

Railways: Glasgow

Katy Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has conducted any recent research of the economic benefits of retaining direct London to Glasgow rail services.

Chris Mole: The economic benefits of direct services between London Euston and Glasgow were evaluated in detail by the former Strategic Rail Authority as part of the business case for upgrading the West Coast Main Line. It has not been necessary for the Department for Transport to repeat that work.
	The future of direct services between London King's Cross and Glasgow has been reviewed as part of a package of changes to services on the East Coast Main Line. Specifically, the Department for Transport has considered whether through-journeys between Glasgow and north-east England should be provided by Cross-country services rather than East Coast services. In accordance with normal practice, assessment of alternative service patterns is focussing on the changes in passenger journey opportunities and the impact on operating costs. The economic benefits of the full package of changes to the East Coast Main Line timetable will be evaluated in due course to confirm the overall business case for the changes.

Weapons: Decommissioning

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress is being made towards total decommissioning of weapons held by  (a) Republican and  (b) Loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: I welcome the historic report from the IICD on 6 January confirming a major decommissioning act by the UDA, one which the leadership of the UDA has stated constitutes the totality of those armaments under its control. This is an important development and further evidence of the success of politics over violence in Northern Ireland.
	I join the IICD in calling on other groups still intending to decommission and currently engaged with the IICD to put their weapons beyond use before the amnesty ends on 9 February.

Clean Air Charters

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) First Minister and  (b) Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to promote clean air charters in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Wayne David: My right hon. Friend has taken a close interest in clean air charters, and his officials and advisers have been engaged in promoting them in Wales, including in discussion with counterparts in WAG and DECC. We support all steps that can be taken to improve air quality.

Economic Situation

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the Welsh economy.

Peter Hain: I had regular discussions with the former First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM on the Welsh economy and will continue to do so with the new First Minister.
	Our action both in Westminster and Wales has helped to prevent a global recession becoming a depression. Now we will focus on securing the economic recovery in Wales.

DNA: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1532W, on DNA: databases, how many profiles have been removed from the National DNA Database by each police force in each month since 15 October 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: Table 1 shows the number of subject profiles removed from the national DNA database under the Exceptional Case Procedure, i.e. following a request to the chief officer of the responsible police force from the person concerned, in each month from 16 October 2009 to 30 November 2009.
	The table covers subject profiles from English and Welsh police forces and the British Transport police.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of subject profiles removed from the national DNA database by each police force from 16 October 2009 to 30 November 2009 
			  Force  16-31 October 2009  1-30 November 2009 
			 Avon and Somerset 3 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 
			 British Transport 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 
			 City of London 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 
			 Cumbria 1 2 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 
			 Durham 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 
			 Essex 1 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 2 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 
			 Kent 3 2 
			 Lancashire 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 2 
			 Metropolitan 0 2 
			 Norfolk 1 0 
			 North Wales 0 1 
			 North Yorkshire 0 2 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 
			 Northumbria 6 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 1 
			 South Yorkshire 0 5 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 
			 West Midlands 2 0 
			 West Yorkshire 2 3 
			 Wiltshire 2 0 
			 Total 25 22

DNA: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1534W, on DNA: databases, how many new profiles have been added to the National DNA Database by each police force in each month since 15 October 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The figures in Table 1 show the number of subject profiles added to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) by English and Welsh police forces and British Transport police in each month between 16 October 2009 and 30 November 2009, broken down by the police force which took the sample.
	The number of subject profiles held on the NDNAD is not the same as the number of individuals. A proportion of DNA profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, a profile for a person has been loaded on more than one occasion (this may be because the person gave different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because of upgrading of profiles). It is currently estimated that 13.8 per cent. of subject profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. The replication rate of 13.8 per cent. should only be applied over the entire database however, as the replication rate for individual police forces varies considerably. The presence of these replicate profiles on the NDNAD does not impact on the effectiveness and integrity of the database.
	
		
			  Table 1: Subject profiles added to the NDNAD 
			  Force  16 to 31 October 2009  1 to 30 November 2009 
			 Avon and Somerset 569 735 
			 Bedfordshire 231 351 
			 British Transport 259 372 
			 Cambridgeshire 203 430 
			 Cheshire 351 481 
			 City of London 65 92 
			 Cleveland 102 403 
			 Cumbria 200 337 
			 Derbyshire 411 497 
			 Devon and Cornwall 345 768 
			 Dorset 191 345 
			 Durham 175 244 
			 Dyfed-Powys 176 302 
			 Essex 593 1,053 
			 Gloucestershire 205 480 
			 Greater Manchester 1,193 1,781 
			 Gwent 255 412 
			 Hampshire 517 954 
			 Hertfordshire 277 479 
			 Humberside 450 496 
			 Kent 610 863 
			 Lancashire 944 654 
			 Leicestershire 162 519 
			 Lincolnshire 169 421 
			 Merseyside 1,116 2,012 
			 Metropolitan 4,385 5,033 
			 Norfolk 190 331 
			 North Wales 192 482 
			 North Yorkshire 139 358 
			 Northamptonshire 187 311 
			 Northumbria 464 837 
			 Nottinghamshire 433 880 
			 South Wales 473 604 
			 South Yorkshire 458 718 
			 Staffordshire 558 807 
			 Suffolk 206 526 
			 Surrey 250 351 
			 Sussex 635 399 
			 Thames Valley 884 1,004 
			 Warwickshire 99 295 
			 West Mercia 254 570 
			 West Midlands 640 1,875 
			 West Yorkshire 690 1,166 
			 Wiltshire 215 439 
			 Total 21,121 32,467

Drugs: Crime

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cautions were issued for  (a) possession and  (b) possession with intent for (i) class A, (ii) class B and (c) class C drug offences in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Information provided by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of cautions given for possession of a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2007 (latest available), can be viewed in table 1. The number given for possession with intent to supply can be viewed in table 2.
	Cautions and court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication on 28 January 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned for possession of a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2007( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Year  Class A  Class B  Class C 
			  Class A 1997 3,918 48,728 249 
			 92/50-92/59 93/67 1998 4,130 51,515 242 
			  Class B 1999 4,266 42,560 164 
			 92/60-92/65 2000 4,479 34,595 147 
			  Class C 2001 4,583 33,182 108 
			 92/66-92/68 93/71-93/72 2002 4,563 38,482 149 
			  2003 4,764 38,845 149 
			  2004 5,576 10,114 14,605 
			  2005 7,431 3,621 20,805 
			  2006 10,139 2,746 21,367 
			  2007 13,536 3,262 22,643 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, by class, England and Wales, 1997 to 2007( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Year  Class A  Class B  Class C 
			  Class A 1997 79 401 19 
			 92/70-92/79 93/77 1998 88 470 10 
			  Class B 1999 91 413 8 
			 92/80-92/85 2000 139 305 7 
			  Class C 2001 136 310 5 
			 92/86-92/88 93/77-93/78 2002 132 336 5 
			  2003 129 371 6 
			  2004 137 207 280 
			  2005 189 83 477 
			  2006 247 53 519 
			  2007 234 44 457 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Cannabis was reclassified in January 2004 to a class C drug. From 1997 to 2003 the class B category includes cannabis; from 2004-07 cannabis is included in class C. (4) Since April 2004 the police may issue an adult offender with a cannabis warning for simple possession of cannabis.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.

Olympic Games 2012: North West

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps her Department is undertaking to ensure the North West region will benefit from the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy of London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to maximise the sporting, commercial, cultural and other benefits of the 2012 games.
	There are plans for 68 Olympic and Paralympic pre-games training camps in the north west. In addition, the Australian Olympic swimming team, the Thailand Olympic and Paralympic team and the Oceania National Olympic Committees have signed agreements to base their pre-games training camps in the north west. Old Trafford will also host rounds in the Olympic football competition in 2012.
	43 businesses in the north west have won direct contracts with the Olympic Delivery Authority. 13 projects in the north west have been awarded the Inspire mark and more than 50 organisations have participated in the open weekend.
	Also, the north west has secured £3.02 million from the Legacy Trust to encourage the north west sporting, cultural and education sectors to connect with the 2012 games. To date, around 550 schools in the north west have registered with Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme.

Flood Control

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of use of water meadows in preventing flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The impact that storing water in flood meadows may have on alleviating flooding in any particular location will depend on the hydrological characteristics of the catchment and the storage capacity and position of the flood meadow. If a water meadow is in a suitable location and has appropriate hydrology to be a flood storage area, it will be assessed in the same way as any other potential flood storage area. Therefore, where there are water meadows, or water meadow could be created, the Environment Agency or other operating authorities assess the effectiveness of their use for flood alleviation on a case by case basis.

Flood Control

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the cost benefit analysis applicable to each of the flood defence schemes given approval within the last 12 months, excluding minor schemes progressed by local authorities.

Huw Irranca-Davies: All flood defence schemes given approval in the last 12 months were reviewed for compliance with DEFRA project appraisal guidance and the Treasury Green Book. Benefit cost ratios (BCRs) are fundamental to this approach as they provide a transparent and inclusive approach to decision making that takes all relevant factors into account. While maximising the BCR often indicates the most economically worthwhile scheme option, the decision making process takes into account reasonable expectations about the standard of protection appropriate to the location. Therefore, while the overall BCR of the Environment Agency's capital programme is currently 8:1, this includes a wide range of individual scheme BCRs above and below the programme average.
	The following table shows the benefit cost ratio for a sample of ten significant schemes that have had their business cases approved since Christmas 2008. This group represents a total spend of £51 million, and has an average benefit cost ratio that well exceeds our target of five(1).
	(1) Target for Outcome Measure 1-CSR2007 (an Environment Agency performance measure set by DEFRA)
	
		
			  Project title  Environment Agency Region  Benefit cost ratio  Total cost (£ million) 
			 Altmouth Urgent Works North West 12.9 10.8 
			 Burstwick Drain North East 5.5 2.5 
			 Cannington Outfalls South West 20.0 1.0 
			 Gunness Midlands 90.2 2.3 
			 Newmans Sluice Anglian 3.1 3.7 
			 Upper Mole Flood Alleviation scheme Thames 26.5 16.0 
			 Thames and Palace Wharves Thames 7.1 2.1 
			 Welches Dam Pumping Station Refurbishment Anglian 35.0 6.6 
			 Dog in a Doublet Sluice Anglian 20.0 2.0 
			 Pevensey Outfalls Reconstruction Southern 20.8 4.0

Higher Level Schemes

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Higher Level schemes cost in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme is delivered by Natural England on behalf of DEFRA.
	Natural England was allocated £13,600,000 in 2008-09 (the same amount as in 2007-08) to cover its direct costs in delivering the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) under the common agricultural policy. The HLS scheme is but one component. In addition to this allocation, some £22,400,00 (£28,726,000 in 2007-08) was allocated to Natural England to cover the costs of DEFRA's Genesis IT system which is the IT system used to manage and administer the RDPE. These running costs include depreciation, cost of capital and third party support.

Nature Conservation: British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1379W, on Overseas Territories: nature conservation, what biodiversity projects are being funded from the additional £1.5 million announced by the Minister for Marine and Natural Environment.

Huw Irranca-Davies: This additional funding for biodiversity projects in Overseas Territories is part of round 17 of the Darwin Initiative. We expect to announce the results of round 17 in the spring.

Affordable Housing: Derbyshire

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been built in  (a) Chesterfield constituency and  (b) Derbyshire in each of the last 12 months.

Ian Austin: Information on affordable homes built is not available by constituency.
	The HCA has published statistics of the number of affordable homes delivered under the National Affordable Housing Programme for up to the first six months of 2009-10.
	The following table shows the number of new build homes delivered through HCA funding in Derbyshire county during each of the 12 months to September 2009.
	
		
			  New build affordable homes provided with funding through the HCA 
			   Derbyshire county 
			 October 2008 0 
			 November 2008 40 
			 December 2008 60 
			 January 2009 20 
			 February 2009 30 
			 March 2009 90 
			 April 2009 0 
			 May 2009 0 
			 June 2009 10 
			 July 2009 100 
			 August 2009 20 
			 September 2009 0 
			 Total with HCA funding(1) 360 
			 (1) The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, so the totals may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	Total affordable housing supply includes social rent, intermediate rent and Low Cost Home Ownership. Not all affordable housing is provided by new build completions, as some supply can come from acquisitions. The latest data on total gross affordable supply relate to 2008-09. In 2008-09, 60 affordable homes were provided in Chesterfield borough council and 540 in Derbyshire county council. These figures are from the Homes and Communities Agency and local authority returns to CLG (new build and acquisitions).

Arms Length Management Organisations

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what oversight functions the  (a) Local Government Ombudsman,  (b) Tenant Services Authority,  (c) Homes and Communities Agency and  (d) district auditor has in relation to arms' length management organisations.

Ian Austin: The jurisdiction of the Local Government Ombudsman is to investigate complaints by members of the public against local authorities and their ALMOs. It will only consider complaints after individuals have gone through these organisations' own complaints procedures.
	The Tenants Services Authority was set up on 1 December 2008 and assumed the regulatory role for registered social landlords previously held by the Housing Corporation. The Tenant Services Authority will-subject to parliamentary approval-take on the role of regulating local authority social housing, including ALMOs, from April 2010.
	The Homes and Communities Agency was set up on 1 December 2008 and has day to day responsibility for delivery of the Decent Homes programme, and provides support and guidance to ALMOs on the delivery of their investment programmes.
	In order to access its Decent Homes funding an ALMO must first be inspected by the Housing Inspectorate which is part of the Audit Commission. The ALMO must achieve at least a two star rating at inspection. The Audit Commission provides advisory services to local authorities and ALMOs seeking to achieve two stars at inspection. The Commission can also, on request, provide tailored consultancy services to ALMOs seeking re-inspection.

Building Alterations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of funds for independent living adaptations and equipment was spent on  (a) owner-occupied,  (b) private rented,  (c) local authority-owned and  (d) housing association housing by each local authority in each of the last five years.

Ian Austin: Local authorities are required to complete and return an annual claim and monitoring form to the Department for Disabled Facilities Grants. The information collected through this exercise was recently expanded and now includes a breakdown of expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grant by housing tenure (excluding expenditure on adaptations to local authority tenants which is funded separately through the Housing Revenue Account). The most recent data collection exercise (2009-10) is nearly complete, this was the first year that these data included a breakdown by tenure and we will be publishing the figures for 2008-09 early in the new year. Prior to 2008-09 this information was not collected.

Council Tax

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1297W, on council tax: energy, if he will place in the Library a copy of each representation the Energy Saving Trust has made to his Department.

John Healey: I have placed a copy of the representations that the Energy Saving Trust made to this Department on council tax: energy, in the Library of the House.

Demolition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings have been demolished in each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area since 2002-03; and at what cost.

Ian Austin: I refer the hon. member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central on 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1503-04W.
	HMR Pathfinders have been allocated more than £2 billion since 2002-03 although the programme focuses much more on the refurbishment and renewal of existing stock than demolition. Allocations to HMR Pathfinders are made for whole programmes, and not for individual elements, on the basis of strategies set out in their business plans. It is for individual Pathfinders to judge how much should be spent on particular activities such as demolitions, taking into account the stage of the regeneration process in their area and local market conditions.

Empty Dwelling Management Orders

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether his Department has provided guidance to local authorities on the circumstances in which empty dwelling management orders may be issued in respect of an empty dwelling which is being marketed for sale;
	(2)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 15 July 2009,  Official Report, column 488W, on empty dwelling management orders, which local authorities have received individual guidance provided by his officials in the last 12 months.

Ian Austin: The Department has not issued separate guidance on empty dwellings which are being marketed for sale but supports the guidance on empty dwelling management orders which was launched by the independent Empty Homes Agency on 10 March 2009.
	The Department hosted an empty homes seminar for a number of local authorities on 23 April 2009 to provide an opportunity to discuss the obstacles facing authorities in dealing with empty homes, share examples of best practice, and encourage them to take action to tackle empty homes in their area. The following individual local authorities were represented at the meeting:
	Birmingham City Council
	East Cambridgeshire District Council
	Exeter City Council
	Gloucester City Council
	Great Yarmouth Borough Council
	Kent County Council
	Manchester City Council
	Mansfield District Council
	Reading Borough Council
	Sheffield District Council
	Warwick Borough Council
	West Lindsey District Council,
	as well as the West London Housing Partnership, representing seven London boroughs, and the Herts, Beds, Bucks Empty Homes Forum, representing 24 local authorities. A further eight local authorities were invited but were unable to attend. Local authorities contact my officials on an ad hoc basis for which we do not keep records and they can also access information about empty homes on the Department's website.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingmanagementcare/emptyhomes/

Floods: Gloucestershire

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much the Government has spent in total across Government departments to support recovery in  (a) Gloucester City and  (b) Gloucestershire since the 2007 floods;
	(2)  what resources his Department has made available to Gloucester City to support flood recovery since the 2007 floods;
	(3)  what resources his Department has made available to Gloucestershire to support flood recovery since the 2007 floods;
	(4)  what resources his Department has co-ordinated across Government to support flood recovery in Gloucestershire since the 2007 floods.

Rosie Winterton: Following the flooding of summer 2007, Government made available a comprehensive package of support for those communities most badly affected. This included Flood Recovery Grant, funding from the Bellwin Scheme, the Restoration Fund and funding for council tax relief, all of which were administered by Communities and Local Government (CLG). The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) provided funding for schools and children's services and the Department of Transport (DFT) provided funding for repairs to highways and transport infrastructure. Details of the support given to local authorities within Gloucestershire are shown in the following table.
	The total package of support to all local authorities in Gloucestershire was £29,137,517.
	
		
			  Local authority  Support  Amount(£) 
			 Cheltenham borough council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 646,500 
			  Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 48,361 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 1,774,306 
			  Council Tax Funding (CLG) 2,611 
			  Sum of total funding 2,471,778 
			
			 Cotswold district council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 663,500 
			  Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 87,432 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 330,316 
			  Council Tax Funding (CLG) 21,722 
			  Sum of total funding 1,102,970 
			
			 Forest of Dean district council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 23,000 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 13,324 
			  Council Tax Funding (CLG) 2,728 
			  Sum of total funding 39,052 
			
			 Gloucester city council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 696,500 
			  Bellwin Scheme (GLG) 189,361 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 191,016 
			  Council Tax Funding (CLG) 10,209 
			  Sum of total funding 1,087,086 
			
			 Gloucestershire police authority Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 955,420 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 60,639 
			  Sum of total funding 1,016,059 
			
			 Stroud district council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 60,000 
			  Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 8,673 
			  Sum of total funding 68,673 
			
			 Tewkesbury borough council Flood Recovery Grant (CLG) 673,500 
			  Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 351,073 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 216,919 
			  Council Tax Funding (CLG) 233,000 
			  Sum of total funding 1,474,492 
			
			 Gloucestershire county council Funding from DCSF 1,007,900 
			  Funding from DFT 16,548,000 
			  Bellwin Scheme (CLG) 2,807,644 
			  Restoration Fund (CLG) 1,513,863 
			  Sum of total funding 21,877,407

Homes and Communities Agency: Public Relations

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1345W, on the Homes and Communities Agency: public relations, when a copy of the briefs and contract will be placed in the Library.

John Healey: I have placed a copy of the contract briefs in the Library of the House. The actual contracts are commercially sensitive and cannot be made available.

Housing: Databases

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1393W, on housing: databases, what annual payment is made by the Valuation Office Agency to Ordnance Survey to licence the datasets to undertake the geo-referencing; what other payments are made by the Valuation Office Agency to Ordnance Survey in relation to the work; what the total monetary value of such other payments has been to date; and whether Ordnance Survey receives any data or benefit in kind from the Valuation Office Agency as part of this work.

Ian Austin: Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is entitled to receive a variety of Ordnance Survey datasets as a member of the Pan Government Agreement, for which it contributes to a central annual payment by Government under the terms of the agreement.
	In addition Ordnance Survey and VOA have been working together to align their spatial address databases as part of their joint commitment to Smarter Government.
	Under this collaboration, Ordnance Survey supplies VOA with a copy of OS MasterMap((r)) Address Layer 2 for which no charge is made by Ordnance Survey.
	VOA has two address databases covering properties subject to council tax and premises subject to non domestic rates respectively. Under the joint collaboration, VOA provides Ordnance Survey with a copy of the council tax address data which Ordnance Survey matches to its own address database. Ordnance Survey provides VOA with information on any corrections to the post code information held within the VOA's council tax database, which have been identified by the address matching process. No charge is made by VOA for supplying the council tax address data and no payments are made by VOA to Ordnance Survey in respect of the information provided to VOA by Ordnance Survey as a result of the address matching work it undertakes.
	Following the address matching process, Ordnance Survey includes the Valuation Office Agency's Unique Address Reference Number (UARN) within OS MasterMap Address Layer 2, and also within a table of cross references to others' unique address identifiers. This cross reference table is available from Ordnance Survey free of charge.
	Ordnance Survey licences the non domestic rates address data from the VOA for address matching against Ordnance Survey's address database, on VOA's standard commercial terms.

Housing: Immigrants

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of all housing demand was due to net migration into England in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: It is not possible to measure historic demand for housing; the principal proxy of the gross number of new households that have recently formed is derived from the Survey of English Housing.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the  (a) outcomes and  (b) cost-effectiveness of the millennium communities scheme.

Ian Austin: The Millennium Communities is an active programme that is demonstrating how mixed-use, environmentally positive communities can be created on difficult, brownfield sites. It will continue to deliver outputs up to at least 2012. An evaluation of the longer-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the Millennium Communities programme would be expected to be undertaken following its completion.
	The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is responsible for delivering the programme on behalf of Communities and Local Government. Communities and Local Government scrutinises the HCA's expenditure and performance in line with the HCA's Financial Framework, and against the aims and objectives set in the HCA's Corporate Plan.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1346W, on housing: construction, for what reasons no homes had been built in the Hastings Millennium Community at the time of that Answer.

Ian Austin: Hastings Millennium Community comprises three separate sites; Ore Valley, Station Plaza and West Marina. Development on these sites has been subject to delay for various reasons.
	At Ore Valley there has been significant progress as a result, either directly or indirectly, of Homes and Communities Agency funding. A new community centre has already been completed, a college campus is close to completion and an adventure play ground is due to be completed in March 2010. The primary care trust is planning to develop a health centre at the site and improvements are planned at the nearby station. However, delays have resulted from high abnormal development costs and design challenges associated with working in a difficult topography. The housing market in this area is also traditionally weak. This has made it difficult to attract a development partner for the residential elements. Despite this, and the recent market downturn, a development agreement is due to be signed very shortly with Bellway Homes.
	At Station Plaza, a new campus facility and health centre are close to completion but the residential element (comprising 103 apartments) has stalled due to the current housing market.
	West Marina is subject to revised master planning in order to improve viability and clarify funding requirements.

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) length and  (b) notice period is of the contract of each member of the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

John Healey: IPC, chair, deputy chairs and commissioners are appointed for five years, however this can be renewed, subject to satisfactory performance, up to a maximum of eight years.
	Subject to paragraph 4(2) in Schedule 1 of the Planning Act 2008, these appointments can be terminated early by the Secretary of State giving three months notice, in writing. A commissioner may also resign, again giving three months notice, in writing.

Mining: Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of local authorities have produced finalised mineral core strategies.

Ian Austin: 15 of the 95 anticipated mineral core strategies, or core strategies with a minerals element, have been adopted to date. This represents 16 per cent. of the overall anticipated figure. We expect about a further 50 to be published during 2010 and 2011.
	In addition, we estimate that approximately 35 mineral planning authorities are expected to produce mineral development plan documents (DPDs) by the end of 2011, to deal with specific issues and sites, rather than addressing minerals in detail in the core strategy.

Newham Homes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment was made by the Housing Corporation before its abolition of the work undertaken by Newham Homes;
	(2)  if he will require the Tenant Services Authority to undertake an investigation into the appropriateness of the level of service charges being levied by Newham Homes on its leaseholders in Brentwood.

Ian Austin: Newham Homes is an arms length management organisation (ALMO) and not a registered social landlord. As a result of this, no assessment of Newham Homes has been made by either the TSA or its predecessor body, the Housing Corporation.
	Tenant Services Authority's remit will not extend to the whole social housing sector until its remaining powers under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are commenced in April 2010. This legislation will not provide for the regulation of leasehold properties including those that are managed by social landlords.
	However, where leaseholders believe that a demand for service charges is unreasonable they have the right to ask a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to determine the reasonableness of the demand.

Newham Homes

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets his Department has set for repair and renovation of the housing stock owned by Newham Homes.

Ian Austin: Newham Homes manages the housing stock owned by the London borough of Newham.
	Newham Homes currently receives capital funding under the ALMO programme to repair and maintain the housing stock that it manages.
	The ALMO is undertaking an investment programme agreed with its local authority, the Department and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The capital funding will enable it to achieve the Decent Homes Standard by 2011-12. The HCA was set up on 1 December 2008 and has day to day responsibility for delivery of the Decent Homes programme.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the additional net revenue raised from reductions in empty property business rate relief in each year since 2007-08; and what estimate he has made of the change in revenue arising from the end to the lower threshold from April 2010.

Barbara Follett: The impact assessment of the reforms to the Empty Property business rate relief which came into force on 1 April 2008 estimated that these would increase net tax yields by £950 million in 2008-09, £900 million in 2009-10 and £900 million every year thereafter. The full impact assessment can be seen at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20080386_en.pdf
	Data on the amount of Empty Property Relief actually paid out are collected annually from local authorities. However, changes in these amounts will not only be due to the recent reforms; other factors like the number, type and value of empty hereditaments will also play their part.
	In 2009-10 all empty properties with rateable values up to £15,000 are eligible for full relief from business rates-70 per cent. of all properties are under this threshold and, if empty, are not liable for rates in 2009-10. This temporary measure is providing real help to owners to manage short-term pressures in a difficult property market.
	No estimate has been made of the change in revenue arising from the end to the temporary reform of the empty property relief scheme. In the pre Budget report the Chancellor announced that the temporary increase in the threshold at which an empty property becomes liable for Business Rate Relief is being extended for a further year and that the amount of this threshold has been increased to £18,000. The full pre Budget report can be seen at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr09_completereport.pdf
	Regulations and an accompanying impact assessment to give effect to this amount will be brought forward in due course.

Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has plans to adopt the recommendations of the Killian-Pretty Review on statutory notices required for planning applications in relation to other types of notice for which his Department is responsible.

Ian Austin: In response to the recommendations of the Killian Pretty review, which focused on the planning context, we announced on 21 December that the rules for local authorities advertising planning applications in local newspapers will not change. Any proposals to change the arrangements for other types of statutory notices, for which this Department is responsible, would need to be considered case by case, each on its own merits.

Regional Development Agencies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) statutory and  (b) non-statutory functions of the regional development agencies are funded by his Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not provide funding for specific statutory or non statutory functions undertaken by the regional development agencies ('RDAs'). The Department makes an annual contribution to the RDAs' single programme, which is administered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as sponsor Department for the RDAs.

Arts Council England

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  which solicitors' partnerships have been used by Arts Council England in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what the names and addresses are of the  (a) accountancy firms and  (b) auditors currently used by Arts Council England;
	(3)  when Mr. Julian Ravest of Robin and Gorringe was contracted to provide services in respect of Arts Council England's monitoring of the Public Arts building project in West Bromwich; and when that contract ended;
	(4)  how much was paid to Robin and Gorringe by Arts Council England in each year between 2002 and 2006;
	(5)  what consultants were contracted by Arts Council England in relation to The Public arts centre in West Bromwich;
	(6)  in which of the last 10 financial years Graham Devlin was employed as a consultant by Arts Council England.

Margaret Hodge: The issues raised are matters for Arts Council England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to consider the issues raised and write direct to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Arts Council England

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who the  (a) internal and  (b) external trustees are of Arts Council England's pension fund; and in which capacity each serves.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for Arts Council England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive to write direct to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Arts Council England

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which trade unions are given facility agreements by Arts Council England; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such agreements.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for Arts Council England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to consider the issue and write direct to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Arts Council England: Grants

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to direct the Arts Council remove questions regarding sexual orientation from its application forms for funding.

Margaret Hodge: The Arts Council works independently from Government as a non-departmental public body and there is no political interference in its work or its decisions. It would not be appropriate for us to dictate the content of application forms.
	The Arts Council has told us the sexual orientation question is due to be removed from their application form in March. They are looking at how best to comply with new duties proposed in the Equality Bill.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2009,  Official Report, column 528W, how much of the amount spent on planning and staging the event at The Grove was spent on  (a) food,  (b) drink and  (c) travel to the event.

Si�n Simon: The gross amount spent on  (a) food  (b) drink and  (c) travel from the budget allocated to planning and staging the event are as follows.
	
		
			   £ 
			 (a) 24,399.05 
			 (b) 6,176.83 
			 (c) 1,907.42 
		
	
	There was also a total amount of £44,297 spent on day delegate rates. This included some provision for food and drink, but also covered other costs such as hotel staff, room hire, use of audio visual equipment and use of hotel facilities.
	In addition, from a separate budget, we spent £3,446 on travel to the event for speakers and cabinet ambassadors.

Museums and Galleries: West Bromwich

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the reports produced by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the funding of The Public arts centre in West Bromwich before The Public Building Limited went into administration.

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for Arts Council England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to consider the issues raised and write direct to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Research

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has  (a) evaluated and  (b) conducted on barriers to women and those from ethnic minorities establishing businesses.

Rosie Winterton: The Household Survey of Entrepreneurship was conducted by the Department bi-annually between 2001 and 2007. This survey included analysis of barriers to starting a business for women and ethnic minorities.
	The Annual Small Business Survey has been used to systematically acquire data on obstacles to success reported by women-led and ethnic minority-led businesses since 2003.
	A number of studies focussing on specific issues have also been conducted. These include:
	The Government's response to the Ethnic Minority Business Task Force (2009).
	The Government's response to the Women's Enterprise Task Force (2009).
	Assessing the effectiveness of different forms of support for women's enterprise: the regional women's enterprise initiatives (2008).
	Exploring gender differentials in access to business finance: an econometric analysis of survey data (2007).
	Finance for small and medium-sized enterprises: comparisons of ethnic minority and white owned businesses (2006).
	Women's business ownership: recent research and policy developments (2006).
	Sharing the vision: a collaborative approach to increasing female entrepreneurship (2003).
	Engaging black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs in business support (2003).
	Further details of these and other relevant studies are available on the Publications page of the BIS website:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/publications/reports/index.html

Unemployment: Young People

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of people aged 16 to 24 years were not in education, employment or training in each  (a) region and  (b) local authority area in each quarter of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The following table gives the number and percentage of people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training for each region of England for every quarter from quarter two 2000 to quarter three 2009. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey.
	The Labour Force Survey sample is not large enough to provide quarterly estimates for small geographies such as local authority areas. We are able to give annual estimates for local authorities from the Annual Population Survey, which has a larger sample; for annual estimates for local education authorities from 2000 to 2008. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 21 July 2009,  Official Report, column 1752W, 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 618W, and 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1721W.
	
		
			  People aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training (NEET) 
			Region  
			   NEET  North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East of England  London  South East  South West  England 
			 Q3 2009 Percentage 22.7 21.3 19.4 17.1 19.4 15.3 17.2 15.7 15.6 18.0 
			  Number 74,000 183,000 126,000 90,000 123,000 92,000 164,000 144,000 86,000 1,082,000 
			 
			 Q2 2009 Percentage 20.9 18.4 18.5 14.0 20.6 13.3 12.6 15.4 11.8 15.9 
			  Number 69,000 155,000 121,000 75,000 131,000 82,000 120,000 142,000 66,000 959,000 
			 
			 Q1 2009 Percentage 17.8 18.5 16.0 12.9 20.1 13.6 13.9 14.1 13.9 15.6 
			  Number 57,000 156,000 107,000 69,000 126,000 83,000 127,000 130,000 78,000 935,000 
			 
			 Q4 2008 Percentage 16.7 16.8 13.6 12.8 16.4 12.9 14.6 13.2 11.1 14.2 
			  Number 54,000 142,000 92,000 68,000 105,000 79,000 131,000 122,000 63,000 857,000 
			 
			 Q3 2008 Percentage 19.6 17.6 17.8 15.9 18.7 13.5 16.5 14.4 12.7 16.2 
			  Number 65,000 151,000 119,000 86,000 119,000 82,000 149,000 131,000 71,000 973,000 
			 
			 Q2 2008 Percentage 17.4 16.2 15.1 13.4 15.6 12.5 14.5 12.1 9.7 14.0 
			  Number 56,000 139,000 101,000 71,000 98,000 77,000 132,000 111,000 55,000 840,000 
			 
			 Q1 2008 Percentage 16.2 16.1 11.3 13.1 15.0 14.1 14.8 11.5 10.9 13.6 
			  Number 52,000 136,000 75,000 69,000 95,000 87,000 129,000 104,000 63,000 810,000 
			 
			 Q4 2007 Percentage 15.3 14.2 12.3 13.0 14.7 12.1 14.2 12.8 9.8 13.1 
			  Number 49,000 120,000 82,000 70,000 93,000 74,000 123,000 116,000 56,000 782,000 
			 
			 Q3 2007 Percentage 16.4 17.3 15.9 15.1 17.6 15.2 15.7 14.0 11.2 15.4 
			  Number 52,000 144,000 105,000 81,000 111,000 92,000 136,000 125,000 63,000 909,000 
			 
			 Q2 2007 Percentage 14.6 16.1 13.9 12.8 17.4 14.1 15.1 12.4 11.1 14.2 
			  Number 47,000 134,000 92,000 66,000 107,000 84,000 130,000 112,000 61,000 833,000 
			 
			 Q1 2007 Percentage 15.2 15.2 14.5 13.8 18.0 12.8 13.8 12.0 12.7 14.1 
			  Number 48,000 127,000 97,000 72,000 111,000 76,000 119,000 107,000 70,000 828,000 
			 
			 Q4 2006 Percentage 14.2 14.4 14.5 12.5 15.4 12.9 17.2 10.5 12.3 13.8 
			  Number 45,000 120,000 95,000 65,000 96,000 77,000 148,000 93,000 68,000 808,000 
			 
			 Q3 2006 Percentage 16.9 16.9 18.3 15.6 17.7 15.5 21.2 13.2 13.5 16.6 
			  Number 53,000 140,000 118,000 81,000 112,000 92,000 184,000 115,000 74,000 970,000 
			 
			 Q2 2006 Percentage 16.7 15.7 16.5 14.8 15.6 14.4 16.1 12.5 10.8 14.8 
			  Number 52,000 128,000 105,000 76,000 97,000 86,000 141,000 108,000 59,000 851,000 
			 
			 Q1 2006 Percentage 16.8 14.6 14.5 15.3 14.8 12.4 15.4 12.1 11.0 14.0 
			  Number 52,000 118,000 93,000 77,000 90,000 72,000 132,000 105,000 61,000 801,000 
			 
			 Q4 2005 Percentage 19.3 13.9 16.6 13.9 15.1 13.2 16.9 12.7 11.6 14.6 
			  Number 61,000 114,000 107,000 70,000 93,000 77,000 143,000 110,000 63,000 837,000 
			 
			 Q3 2005 Percentage 22.5 15.0 16.7 13.4 16.4 11.8 17.7 12.7 14.0 15.2 
			  Number 68,000 124,000 107,000 67,000 100,000 69,000 156,000 110,000 76,000 877,000 
			 
			 Q2 2005 Percentage 19.7 14.5 15.9 11.6 14.3 11.3 15.4 10.0 11.5 13.5 
			  Number 62,000 117,000 99,000 59,000 88,000 66,000 134,000 85,000 61,000 771,000 
			 
			 Q1 2005 Percentage 17.9 13.8 14.5 12.1 13.2 10.4 15.5 10.8 11.8 13.1 
			  Number 56,000 110,000 89,000 61,000 81,000 60,000 131,000 92,000 63,000 743,000 
			 
			 Q4 2004 Percentage 18.7 14.1 13.1 13.7 13.6 10.7 16.4 9.5 11.4 13.2 
			  Number 58,000 113,000 81,000 68,000 83,000 61,000 139,000 82,000 60,000 744,000 
			 
			 Q3 2004 Percentage 19.0 15.6 16.5 14.9 16.7 12.2 18.7 10.5 11.0 14.9 
			  Number 59,000 123,000 100,000 73,000 99,000 68,000 160,000 90,000 57,000 829,000 
			 
			 Q2 2004 Percentage 16.4 14.0 11.9 11.7 14.4 11.2 15.2 10.0 9.4 12.6 
			  Number 49,000 109,000 72,000 57,000 84,000 62,000 131,000 84,000 47,000 697,000 
			 
			 Q1 2004 Percentage 17.4 12.1 12.5 11.0 14.2 9.3 15.5 11.5 7.4 12.3 
			  Number 53,000 94,000 75,000 53,000 84,000 51,000 133,000 98,000 37,000 677,000 
			 
			 Q4 2003 Percentage 15.2 13.4 12.8 10.7 13.5 9.0 14.3 11.7 7.4 12.1 
			  Number 46,000 105,000 76,000 51,000 81,000 50,000 122,000 99,000 37,000 667,000 
			 
			 Q3 2003 Percentage 19.6 17.6 16.1 13.6 17.4 13.3 15.5 12.3 10.0 14.9 
			  Number 59,000 136,000 96,000 63,000 102,000 72,000 136,000 102,000 50,000 815,000 
			 
			 Q2 2003 Percentage 18.6 14.4 14.8 12.8 15.0 12.3 12.7 11.5 8.7 13.1 
			  Number 54,000 109,000 86,000 59,000 86,000 66,000 111,000 94,000 43,000 708,000 
			 
			 Q1 2003 Percentage 18.7 13.1 16.2 11.8 15.5 14.4 13.8 10.7 10.8 13.6 
			  Number 55,000 98,000 94,000 54,000 89,000 78,000 119,000 89,000 53,000 729,000 
			 
			 Q4 2002 Percentage 17.2 13.4 12.7 12.2 13.5 12.8 12.5 9.1 9.8 12.2 
			  Number 50,000 100,000 73,000 56,000 79,000 69,000 108,000 76,000 49,000 659,000 
			 
			 Q3 2002 Percentage 17.5 15.9 18.5 12.9 16.9 13.5 16.0 11.1 11.8 14.8 
			  Number 51,000 115,000 105,000 59,000 96,000 73,000 138,000 92,000 57,000 785,000 
			 
			 Q2 2002 Percentage 16.2 16.6 15.3 12.2 15.5 11.5 13.7 10.8 8.9 13.3 
			  Number 46,000 119,000 86,000 55,000 87,000 61,000 120,000 88,000 42,000 703,000 
			 
			 Q1 2002 Percentage 18.2 16.0 14.9 13.1 16.1 11.4 12.7 10.1 10.3 13.3 
			  Number 53,000 116,000 83,000 59,000 90,000 61,000 110,000 82,000 49,000 701,000 
			 
			 Q4 2001 Percentage 16.1 15.0 13.7 11.3 14.4 11.0 13.2 10.5 8.9 12.6 
			  Number 46,000 110,000 76,000 51,000 81,000 59,000 114,000 85,000 43,000 664,000 
			 
			 Q3 2001 Percentage 18.1 18.0 15.7 13.7 14.3 13.6 15.7 11.7 12.0 14.6 
			  Number 50,000 130,000 84,000 60,000 80,000 72,000 138,000 95,000 57,000 766,000 
			 
			 Q2 2001 Percentage 15.2 15.9 13.8 12.5 13.6 11.5 12.4 8.4 10.4 12.4 
			  Number 42,000 114,000 74,000 54,000 75,000 60,000 109,000 68,000 49,000 644,000 
			 
			 Q1 2001 Percentage 20.2 15.7 14.8 13.1 14.8 11.6 11.9 9.5 9.7 13.0 
			  Number 56,000 113,000 80,000 57,000 81,000 61,000 101,000 76,000 45,000 671,000 
			 
			 Q4 2000 Percentage 18.3 13.5 13.9 13.0 15.0 10.3 11.3 9.3 10.3 12.3 
			  Number 50,000 95,000 75,000 56,000 82,000 54,000 95,000 74,000 48,000 629,000 
			 
			 Q3 2000 Percentage 21.9 15.8 16.9 15.4 15.9 12.2 15.2 11.2 10.5 14.5 
			  Number 59,000 112,000 89,000 69,000 86,000 63,000 132,000 90,000 49,000 749,000 
			 
			 Q2 2000 Percentage 22.6 13.2 14.3 13.7 13.6 10.2 14.9 8.5 9.2 12.8 
			  Number 62,000 93,000 74,000 60,000 75,000 52,000 130,000 67,000 42,000 655,000 
			 Base: 16 to 24-year-olds, England  Source: Labour Force Survey

Belarus

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Belarus to discuss  (a) bilateral relations and  (b) broader global issues.

Chris Bryant: I currently have no plans to visit Belarus. These issues are discussed regularly at official level. My predecessor, the then Minister for Europe (Caroline Flint) met the Belarasian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky when he visited the UK in November 2008.

Chile: Foreign Relations

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Chile.

Chris Bryant: The Government's chief objective is to deepen the already excellent bilateral relationship which was greatly bolstered during 2009 through visits by HRH The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and through the first ever visit by a serving Prime Minister. We will seek an early opportunity to arrange the next round of our existing High Level Political Talks once the new Chilean Government takes office in March 2010. We aim to work with the Chilean military to capitalise on its experience in UN and peace-keeping operations in Haiti, Bosnia and Cyprus through a continuing programme of high-level staff visits. We will also continue to promote a growing bilateral trade, commercial and investment relationship with Chile, while advocating a similar pro-market stance in international trade talks. The UK's overriding aim is to be a partner of choice for Chile in key international and public policy issues of mutual concern.

Peru: EU External Trade

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions of the proposed free trade agreement between Peru and the EU govern the protection of the Amazonian rainforest; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: We believe that the EU-Andean multiparty trade agreement under negotiation with Peru will encourage EU investment in the economy and the further spread of EU standards in corporate and social responsibility. The Government regard trade agreements as important for economic growth and prosperity in developing countries, helping to reduce the poverty that is often the driver of conflict, displacement and human rights abuse.
	The UK remains committed to environmental conservation and protecting the rights of indigenous communities. We have frequent discussions with Peru on these issues. During his visit to Peru in October 2009, my hon. Friend the Minister for Latin America met members of the multi-sector committee working to strengthen consultation mechanisms with indigenous groups on the development of the Peruvian Amazon, as well as with a cross-section of domestic and international organisations working on environmental issues in Peru. He offered the Government's support to the Peruvian Government as they seek to strengthen Peru's legal framework for protecting the Amazon. We are engaging with Peru's Environment Minister on his commitment to reduce Peru's deforestation to zero by 2019.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations on the situation in Somalia.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in September 2009 to discuss the situation in Somalia, including progress towards a political settlement and the security situation. The UK has an intense working relationship with the UN on Somalia, in New York, Nairobi and elsewhere. There are ongoing discussions in the UN on Somalia in a range of fora, in particular the Security Council, covering issues such as sanctions on obstacles to peace and security, piracy and UN support to the African Union mission in Somalia.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the security situation in South Sudan following violent incidents in December 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2009,  Official Report, column 431W.
	We are very concerned by the continuing insecurity in South Sudan as a result of tribal violence and activity by the Lord's Resistance Army. This has serious implications for stability in the region and for the safety of the people of South Sudan. It also undermines implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost of replacing all programme making and special events equipment that will be rendered redundant as a result of the clearance and sale of the digital dividend spectrum; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Ofcom have estimated the costs for the residual value of Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) equipment that will be affected by the changes in channel 69, taking into account the relevant life of the equipment and has made these available to the Department. Figures have also been provided by representatives of PMSE users, based on a new for old approach and the costs of clearing all the channels affected. The Government are currently reflecting on proposals by PMSE users for full new for old compensation, in the light of the notice, in some cases extensive, provided by Ofcom of these changes.

Pensioners: Poverty

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the number of  (a) pensioners and  (b) children in Nottingham North constituency who have been lifted out of poverty since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of poverty for both pensioners and children are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. These figures only allow a breakdown of the overall numbers in poverty at Government office region level. Therefore, information is not available for the Nottingham North constituency.
	Estimates of the number of pensioners and children who have been lifted out of poverty are not available, as each year different households are surveyed to produce low income statistics in the Households Below Average Income series. However, information is available about the net change in the number of pensioners and children with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income over the period requested for the East Midlands Government office region.
	The Government use a basket of three key thresholds of income, after housing costs, to measure pensioner poverty. The most commonly used poverty figures relate to those with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income after housing costs.
	The latest information for the East Midlands Government office region is based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest 100,000. It shows that the number of pensioners in poverty in the East Midlands fell by 100,000 between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	The PSA to halve child poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating it by 2020 uses a headline indicator of the proportion of children in households with an income below 60 per cent. of contemporary household median income before housing costs.
	The latest information for the East Midlands Government office region is based on three-year averages and changes are rounded to the nearest 100,000. It shows that the number of children in poverty remained at the same level between 1997-98 to 1999-2000 and 2005-06 to 2007-08.
	A local child poverty indicator-including constituency level information-has been developed to try and replicate this national measure as closely as possible. It captures the number and proportion of children in families in receipt of out of work benefits, or in receipt of tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent. of median income. Details can be found via the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/child_poverty.htm
	 Notes
	1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined for regional statistics as single year estimates are subject to volatility.
	2. Small changes in estimates from year to year, particularly at the bottom of the income distribution, may not be significant in view of data uncertainties.
	3. Changes between periods are calculated based on unrounded figures and then rounded to the nearest 100,000. Therefore they may differ from the difference between the rounded figures available in the Households Below Average Income publication.

Social Security Benefits: Lewes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former claimants of jobseeker's allowance in Lewes constituency have moved on to receive  (a) pension credit,  (b) a training allowance,  (c) the self-employment credit and  (d) funding from the Future Jobs Fund in each month of the last two years.

Jim Knight: Data on people who flow off jobseeker's allowance onto pension credit is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of people who have flowed off jobseeker's allowance onto the self-employment credit or into a Future Jobs Fund job in Lewes constituency is not available.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of jobseeker's allowance claimants in Lewes constituency who have flowed off jobseeker's allowance onto Government supported training schemes in each month of the last two years 
			   Number of claimants 
			 December 2007 20 
			 January 2008 5 
			 February 2008 10 
			 March 2008 15 
			 April 2008 10 
			 May 2008 5 
			 June 2008 5 
			 July 2008 5 
			 August 2008 10 
			 September 2008 10 
			 October 2008 (1)- 
			 November 2008 5 
			 December 2008 10 
			 January 2009 5 
			 February 2009 5 
			 March 2009 5 
			 April 2009 10 
			 May 2009 10 
			 June 2009 15 
			 July 2009 10 
			 August 2009 (1)- 
			 September 2009 (1)- 
			 October 2009 (1)- 
			 November 2009 (1)- 
			 (1 )Nil or negligible.  Notes:  1. Data are rounded to the nearest five.  2. This information is published on the Nomis website at www.nomisweb.co.uk 3. The percentage of people leaving with an unknown destination recorded has increased over the last 10 years. This is because the completion levels of the JSA40 (forms filled in by people leaving jobseeker's allowance) have decreased over this period. This should be taken into account when interpreting these statistics, as many of these 'unknown' leavers will have moved into employment or other benefits.  Source:  Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems (computer held cases only).

Voluntary Work

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been referred for volunteering under the Volunteering Plus Scheme; and how many people have started on a volunteering scheme.

Jim Knight: The number of referrals to the volunteering element of the six month offer is not available.
	On 14 October 2009, we released official statistics on the number of jobseeker's allowance customers taking up the volunteering element of the six month offer. This shows that between April 2009 and July 2009, 1,180 people started on the volunteering scheme. Provisional data for August shows that a further 930 people started on the scheme.
	The next quarterly statistical release for the six month offer will be published in January 2010.

Departmental Billing

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of the invoices submitted to  (a) her Department and  (b) the Prime Minister's Office have been paid within 10 days in each month since October 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Data recording invoices paid within 10 days of receipt have only been kept since November 2008. This followed the Prime Minister's announcement, in October 2008, that in future Government Departments would aim to pay invoices within 10 days. The following data relate to the Cabinet Office as a whole (the Prime Minister's Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office):
	
		
			   Percentage of invoices paid within 10 days  Number of invoices paid within 10 days 
			 November 2008 51 1,303 
			 December 2008 54 803 
			 January 2009 56 1,045 
			 February 2009 57 1,045 
			 March 2009 70 1,867 
			 April 2009 94 652 
			 May 2009 95 806 
			 June 2009 97 1,735 
			 July 2009 89 780 
			 August 2009 96 1,274 
			 September 2009 92 1,326 
			 October 2009 96 1,575 
			 November 2009 90 1,427 
		
	
	Prior to November this information was not recorded and it is available only at disproportionate cost.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, column 975W, on Ministerial policy advisers: contracts, which Ministers have such policy advisers in their private offices.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing: Sales

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many residential property transactions with a purchase price between £125,000 and £175,000 have been recorded by the Land Registry as having been completed since the implementation of the increase in the stamp duty threshold.

Michael Wills: The number of residential property transactions with a purchase price between £125,000 and £175,000 recorded by the Land Registry in England and Wales between the implementation of the increase in the stamp duty threshold on 3 September 2008 and 30 November 2009 (which is the latest data for which figures are available) is 180,808.

Armed Forces: Bomb Disposal

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many explosive ordnance disposal officers there are in the armed forces;
	(2)  how many armed forces personnel are trained to operate TALON bomb disposal robots.

Bill Rammell: Explosive ordnance disposal officers are highly skilled and specialised members of the armed forces and are employed operationally both in the United Kingdom and overseas. I am withholding the information on the numbers of personnel and those trained to operate TALON bomb disposal robots as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how many service personnel resident in  (a) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency,  (b) the Highlands and  (c) Scotland his Department has purchased accelerated access to (i) NHS and (ii) private treatment in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Accelerated access is a term used by MOD in the context of physical illnesses and injuries. It is separate to the specific fast track arrangements for orthopaedic treatment and separate provision is also made for access to in-patient care for mental health conditions.
	Secondary health care accelerated access for service personnel is commissioned through the NHS. In England, contracts have been established with six selected NHS Trusts (located in areas of significant military population) to purchase accelerated access for elective referrals in a faster time scale than NHS standard target times, when this is necessary to meet operational requirements. There are no such formal arrangements with private sector providers for physical conditions.
	If these routes would not produce timely access to treatment, then the MOD would pay for accelerated access to care from facilities in Scotland on a case-by-case basis. Cases where this has been done are not recorded centrally, and details could only be obtained from an individual search of medical records, which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The most common medical conditions in military patients are musculo-skeletal disorders. Since April 2004, for patients with these conditions, we have arranged rapid access to diagnosis and, for the minority who are then found to need it, surgery in NHS facilities, thus enabling the services to respond to the current high operational tempo and return personnel to full fitness for task when this is clinically deliverable. In Scotland, patients will usually be assessed first by the military Regional Rehabilitation Unit (RRU) in Edinburgh, from where they will be referred if necessary for fast track orthopaedic surgery. Numbers of referrals are only readily available from 1 October 2005. The following table shows the number of referrals for fast track orthopaedic surgery made by RRU Edinburgh, 1 October 2005 to 10 December 2009.
	
		
			  Date  Referrals 
			 1 October to 31 December 2005 30 
			 1 January to 31 December 2006 90 
			 1 January to 31 December 2007 62 
			 1 January to 31 December 2008 69 
			 1 January to 10 December 2009 88 
		
	
	Referrals between October 2005 and September 2008 would have been to the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit, Northallerton. Referrals after September 2008 to date have been to the Nuffield Hospital in Glasgow.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on mental health care services for armed forces personnel in  (a) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency,  (b) the Highlands and  (c) Scotland in each year since 2001.

Kevan Jones: The MOD has 15 Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) in the UK (with additional centres in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar), which have since 2004 provided out-patient mental healthcare for members of the armed forces. Three of these are in Scotland; at RAF Leuchars, RAF Kinloss and HM Naval Base Faslane. Armed forces personnel based in the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency who require mental health services will generally be referred to the DCMH at RAF Kinloss, which is a few miles to the east of Inverness in the adjacent constituency of Moray.
	Responsibility for individual management of the DCMHs is shared between the single service commands, and it is not possible to separate out costs from overall unit medical budgets. Each service funds its respective DCMHs differently, with funding provision coming from a number of areas. Due to the number of budgets to which costs would be attributable, any detailed study of DCMH finances would incur disproportionate costs.

Armed Forces: Theft

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2009,  Official Report, column 902W, on armed forces: theft, what equipment was stolen in respect of each guilty/proven verdict.

Bob Ainsworth: Information from the three services' and Ministry of Defence police's databases for thefts of Ministry of Defence equipment is shown in the following table. Each line reflects one offence. The severity of the sentences reflects the past records and previous convictions of the individuals involved, as well as the nature of the offence itself.
	The information provided pertains solely to thefts of MOD equipment and does not include those cases where the item stolen was not identified as belonging to the MOD.
	Information in the years before 2004 is not comprehensive as records relating the RAF personnel could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  1999- 15 G uilty/proven verdicts  Item(s) stolen 
			 Police Caution Army video camera 
			 Fined £100 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Dismissal and 60 days detention Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £1200 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £250 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 112 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £1,500 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and eight months and 26 days detention Two Abloy keys 
			 Dismissal and pay suspended to the amount of £239.07 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £500 Two Maglite torches 
			 Reduced in rank Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage. 
			 140 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £212.17 14 twenty litre cans of petrol 
			 14 days Restriction of privileges TV set 
			 Dismissal and Reduced in rank Removal of classified documents and 9mm magazine 
			 82 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £32.61 Bayonet 
			 14 days Restriction of privileges TV set, sleeping bags and jackets 
			  2000-11 Guilty charges  
			 12 months probation and 100 hours community service, £55 costs and disqualified from driving for 12 months. Minibus 
			 Fined £400 and internal disciplinary action taken Two replica pistols and a diving knife 
			 60 hours community rehabilitation over 18 months and £250 costs Various weapons including shotguns. 
			 Dismissal and 165 days detention, pay suspended to the amount of £1075 and Reduced in rank Unspecified MOD equipment 
			 Fined £160 Two Land Rover door panels 
			 112 days detention Two instances of taking a vehicle without consent. 
			 140 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £1,500 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident. 
			 Nine months detention and £1,000 compensation. Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 112 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £383.94 Misuse of military vehicle 
			 Dismissal Computer software 
			 Six months and 24 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £140 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident. 
			  2001-17 Guilty charges  
			 Six Months imprisonment Two smoke grenades and 5 x rockets 
			 59 days detention and reduced in rank Two automatic rifles 
			 28 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident. 
			 Fined £750 Removal of pistol without consent 
			 Fined £600 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £350 Taking a vehicle without consent and without appropriate permits and insurance 
			 Severe Reprimand-mitigated by the Appropriate Review Authority to admonishment Four charges of entering into an agreement for the conditional sale of 4 bugles and 1 drum 
			 Dismissal and 135 days detention Two helmets, two swords, buckskin trousers and breast plate. 
			 Seven months detention and pay suspended to the amount of £1,427.17 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Six months detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Dismissal and six months detention Burglary from store 
			 Fined £500 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Fined £500 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Dismissal, 165 days detention and Reduced in rank Unspecified MOD equipment 
			 Dismissal Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident. 
			 82 days detention and Reduced in rank Live rounds, shotgun cartridges, two training grenades 
			 Reduced in rank and pay suspended to the amount of £2,000 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			  2002-15 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Fined £1,050 and pay suspended to the amount of £12.66 Batteries 
			 14 days extra work and drills Respirator 
			 140 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £1,250 Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 112 days detention Equipment including-Armbands, Gerber knife, baton, handcuffs, batteries 
			 Six months detention Taking vehicle without consent 
			 180 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 42 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £106.50 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £1,000, Severe reprimand, and pays suspended to the amount of £6,043.08 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £500 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 112 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £1,000 and pay suspended to the amount of £1,000 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 Fined £500 Caught in act of burglary 
			 Reduced in rank Multi tool and pouch 
			 Dismissal, 122 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £100 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 Fined £650 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			  2003-22 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Dismissal and 42 days detention and pay suspended for 318 days Mobile telephone 
			 Fined £300 Two electric hand lights, and 60 photographic prints 
			 Dismissal and 80 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £158.15. Fuel 
			 Dismissal and three months detention Computer components 
			 Dismissal and 66 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Six months forfeiture of seniority and Reprimand Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Admonished Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £50 and pay suspended to the amount of £200 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £750 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Admonished Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 Pay suspended to the amount of £2,830.08 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and two years detention and Reduced in rank Rifle breech bolts and various live rounds 
			 56 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 112 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £450 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £750 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 28 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 42 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 Reduced in rank Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £650 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £650 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Reduced in rank In possession of rifle without lawful authority 
			  2004-13 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Fine of £1200 Caught in act of burglary 
			 28 days detention and paid stopped to the amount of £373.22 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Reduced in rank Diesel fuel 
			 Fined £500 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 28 days detention and Reduced in rank Camera 
			 26 days detention and Reduced in rank Camera 
			 140 days detention Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Reduced in rank and fined £4000 Unspecified MOD equipment 
			 28 days detention and compensation of £3,000 paid Aggravated taking of a vehicle 
			 Fined £250 Blank ammunition 
			 Dismissal Money and memorabilia 
			 Police caution Two military boots 
			 Police caution Two hot weather jungle boots 
			  2005-15 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Dismissal and six months detention £800 
			 Dismissal and 84 days detention Six boxes of spanners 
			 11 months detention and Reduced in rank Laptop computer, camcorder and flat screen TV 
			 Dismissal, one year detention suspended and Reduced in rank Seven susat sights, two clansman casings, 89 various batteries, 32 cylumes and one image intensifier tube 
			 Dismissal, imprisoned six months and Reduced in rank £564.40, £89.15 and computer system 
			 Fine £300 Live and blank rounds, magazines, susat site, and gas plug and flash eliminator 
			 42 days detention In possession of pistol and magazine without authority 
			 28 days detention Ammunition 
			 Pay suspended to the amount of £1,000 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in damage 
			 84 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £160 Fuel 
			 Dismissal and six months detention Computer equipment 
			 Police caution Two Army Radios 
			 Seven years and six months imprisonment Browning 9mm pistol 
			 12 months community order, 80 hours community service and £1,105.52 paid in compensation. Various firearms, including SA80 rifle. 
			 Fined £400 RAM memory stick 
			  2006-32 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 56 days detention 15 pairs of high-tech magnum boots 
			 Dismissal, imprisoned five years and 252 days and Reduced in rank Rifle 
			 112 days detention and pay suspended to the amount of £500 Taking of vehicle without consent 
			 Pay suspended to the amount of £1,200 Aggravated taking of a vehicle resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and imprisoned for four years and 339 days Two SA80 rifles 
			 Dismissal and six months detention Fuel 
			 84 days detention Services from Northern Rail Network 
			 Reduced in rank 30 high-tech magnum boots 
			 Reduced in rank 30 high-tech magnum boots 
			 Reduced in rank Sleeping bag, bivvi bag, two Combat 95 Shirts, three Combat 95 Trousers, four Live SA80 Magazines, Weapons Cleaning Kit, Poncho, Body Armour, Helmet, Helmet Cover, Gortex Jacket, Gortex Trousers, Desert Combat Body Armour Cover 
			 Reduced in rank Duplicate Iraq zone 1 medal 
			 Dismissal Two laptop computers 
			 Dismissal and 18 months detention Two motorcycles, and Land Rover and trailer 
			 112 days detention Land Rover and trailer 
			 Dismissal and five years and four months imprisonment Pistol 
			 Dismissal and five years and eight months imprisonment and Reduced in rank Pistol 
			 Dismissal and five years imprisonment Makarov 9mm pistol 
			 Fined £1,500 Ammunition 
			 Six months detention, suspended for one year and Reduced in rank Component part of a firearm-regulator assembly(gas plug) 
			 Fined £300 Sabre 500,000 volt stun baton 
			 Fined £1,000, pay suspended to the amount of £1,500 Various items of Service property 
			 Dismissal, eight years imprisonment and Reduced in rank Components of firearms 
			 Fined £1,000 Computer base units 
			 Dismissal Medicines 
			 Fined £504, five days extra work and pay stopped for 30 days Socket set and taking a vehicle without consent 
			 120 days detention Hand tool 
			 56 days detention Body armour and night vision goggles 
			 Police caution Camcorder 
			 Final warning 7.62mm cartridges 
			 12 months imprisonment Live ammunition, pyrotechnics and explosives 
			 Fined £490 Landrover 
			 Fined £650 Landrover 
			  2007-33 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Fined £500 Seven i pods, one Sony music player, one MP3 player, one digital camera, 600 x cigarettes and one Stella Artois bottle. 
			 Reduced in rank Security seals 
			 Fined £400 30 litres of diesel 
			 Admonished Infringing copy of a copyright work 
			 Dismissal, 11 months and one day detention and Reduced in rank Two cameras and accessories 
			 Admonished Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and Imprisoned for seven years and five months 9mm pistol and two magazines 
			 Six months detention Day sack, hi-tec desert boots, crampons, optimus fuel bottle, extremities gloves, alpine scarf, gloves, solar shower, white socks, pan set, primus omnifuel stove, two rope clamps, two rolls of velcro, fleece shirt, jacket, waterproof suit, duvet jacket, micro stove. 
			 88 days detention and Reduced in rank Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 88 days detention Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 Fined £3,000 and Reduced in rank Vehicle Trailer Box Body 
			 Fined £650 Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 Fined £1,000 and pay suspended to the amount of £650 Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and 18 months detention Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal and nine years and 174 days imprisonment Pistols topslides, assorted working parts and ammunition 
			 Dismissal and nine years and 263 days imprisonment Pistols, topslides, assorted working parts and ammunition 
			 Fined £1,800 and Reduced in rank Ammunition-two signal kit pyrotechnic pistols and 16 flares 
			 One day detention Ammunition 
			 Dismissal and 30 days detention Aviation equipment 
			 150 days detention and pay topped to the amount of £424 Arms and ammunition 
			 Dismissal, 90 days detention and Reduced in rank Overhead projector 
			 105 days detention and fined £2000 Deactivated drill rifles 
			 Dismissal and 140 days detention Mobile phone 
			 Reprimand, fined £250 and pay suspended to the amount of £639.29 Aviation clothing 
			 Fined £563 and 14 days extra work Two combat shirts 
			 Fined £100 Ration boxes 
			 42 days detention Items from dry provisions store 
			 42 days detention Items from dry provisions store 
			 Dismissal and six months detention Stopwatch and attempted theft 
			 150 days detention Three cyalume sticks, dive suit, and sundries 
			 Three years and six months imprisonment Palm computer, two digital cameras, tom tom sat nav 
			 Three years and six months imprisonment Palm computer, two digital cameras, tom tom sat nav 
			 Two years and six months imprisonment Palm computer, two digital cameras, tom tom sat nav 
			  2008-32 Guilty/proven verdicts  
			 Dismissal, fined £1,000 and pay suspended to the amount of £41.51 Saw kit, digital camera, an electric engraving tool, hammer drills and eight piece plumbers holesaw kit. 
			 Admonished Helmet mounted night vision system 
			 120 days detention and Reduced in rank 940 litres of fuel 
			 60 days detention 940 litres of fuel 
			 Dismissal, 12 months detention and Reduced in rank Ammunition and pyrotechnics 
			 Fined £75 Night vision goggles 
			 Reduced in rank and pay suspended to the amount of £62.21 60 litres of fuel 
			 Reduced in rank and pay suspended to the amounts of £575.70 and £93.99 Watches 
			 Dismissal and seven months and 16 days detention Money 
			 120 days detention, suspended for one year and Reduced in rank Ammunition 
			 Dismissal, 150 days dismissal and Reduced in rank DVD player 
			 90 days detention and Reduced in rank Taking a vehicle without consent 
			 28 days detention and compensation of £750 paid Aggravated vehicle taking resulting in an accident 
			 Dismissal, 15 years imprisonment and Reduced in rank Weapons and accessories 
			 Fined £750 Blank rounds 
			 Dismissal and 109 days detention Blank rounds 
			 Dismissal and five years and six months imprisonment Weapons 
			 Nine months' detention Ammunition 
			 Six months detention and Reduced in rank Night vision goggles 
			 Police caution Ration packs 
			 Police caution Ration packs 
			 Police caution Ration packs 
			 Police caution Ration packs 
			 Police caution Ration packs 
			 12 months imprisonment Body armour, footwear, clothing and ration packs 
			 12 months imprisonment Body armour, footwear, clothing and ration packs 
			 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months +200 hours community order Body armour, footwear, clothing and ration packs 
			 Fined £500, £400 costs and £15 victim surcharge Computer parts 
			 52 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years, 250 silver unpaid work within 12 months. Three military flares, one smoke grenade, canteen cutlery, cleaning flannelette, military batteries, ten thousand rounds of 22 calibre rifle ammunition 
			 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years, 250 hours unpaid work within 12 months. Ammunition 
			 12 weeks imprisonment suspended over two years, 250 hours community service and £1,000 costs. Ammunition

Iraq: Detainees

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US authorities on the  (a) legal status,  (b) detention conditions and  (c) prospects of trial or release of the two individuals detained by British forces in Iraq in 2004 and subsequently rendered to the Bagram Theatre Internment Facility in Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD maintains an ongoing dialogue with US authorities on a range of detention-related matters, including the two individuals you referred to. The most recent contact of this nature occurred in mid-December 2009.

Travelling people: Computers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 29 October 2009,  Official Report, column 615W, on travelling people: computers, 
	(1)  how many laptops given to Travellers have  (a) been reported as lost or stolen and  (b) not been recovered; and what steps are taken (i) to recover such laptops and (ii) in circumstances in which the laptops are not returned;
	(2)  whether parents are permitted to use the laptops loaned to their children.

Diana Johnson: Since the last answer on 29 October 2009, there have been no reports of laptops being lost or stolen or not recovered. All laptops are tagged by the local authority based Traveller Education Support Service who own them, so could be traced. Laptops are also insured against accidental damage or loss. The circumstances relating to a laptop not returned to the Service would be investigated and every effort would be made to recover it. Finally, to promote family learning, greater parental engagement in education and to improve parental literacy skills, parents are encouraged to use the laptops loaned to their children and are given training alongside their children in the safe and appropriate use of the internet.

Disabled: Social Security Benefits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether changes have been made to the financial assumptions underpinning the Government's financial modelling for a national care service consequent on the announcement of the policy that there will be no cash losers among existing disability benefit recipients.

Phil Hope: As we said in the Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together, if we reform disability benefits, anyone receiving an affected benefit at the time of the reform would continue to receive the equivalent level of support and protection.
	Our working assumption in the financial modelling has therefore consistently been that nobody would experience a cash loss as a result of the reforms.